Aligned and Non-Aligned Double JPEG Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Due to the wide diffusion of JPEG coding standard, the image forensic community has devoted significant attention to the development of double JPEG (DJPEG) compression detectors through the years. The ability of detecting whether an image has been compressed twice provides paramount information toward image authenticity assessment. Given the trend recently gained by convolutional neural networks (CNN) in many computer vision tasks, in this paper we propose to use CNNs for aligned and non-aligned double JPEG compression detection. In particular, we explore the capability of CNNs to capture DJPEG artifacts directly from images. Results show that the proposed CNN-based detectors achieve good performance even with small size images (i.e., 64x64), outperforming state-of-the-art solutions, especially in the non-aligned case. Besides, good results are also achieved in the commonly-recognized challenging case in which the first quality factor is larger than the second one.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation (first submission: March 20, 2017; second submission: August 2, 2017

Hydroalkoxylation of Terminal and Internal Alkynes Catalyzed by Dinuclear Gold(I) Complexes with Bridging Di(N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Ligands

A series of six dinuclear gold(I) complexes with bridging bidentate N-heterocycic carbene ligands (NHCs) of general formula Au2Br2LX (L = diNHC, X = 1\u20136) have been studied as catalysts in the intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of terminal and internal alkynes. The best catalytic results have been obtained by using Au2Br2L4, characterized by 2,6-diisopropylphenyl wingtip substituents and a methylene bridging group between the two NHC donors. Complex Au2Br2L4 has been structurally characterized for the first time in this work, showing the presence of intramolecular aurophiclic interaction in the solid state. In the adopted reaction conditions Au2Br2L4 is able to convert challenging substrates such as diphenylacetylene. Comparative catalytic tests by using the mononuclear gold(I) complexes AuIL7 and IPrAuCl have been performed in order to determine the possible presence of cooperative effects in the catalytic process

Mechanisms of continence and surgical cure in female and male SUI: Surgical research initiatives

Aims To report the conclusions of the Think Tank on mechanisms of incontinence and surgical cure in female and male SUI: surgical research initiatives during the ICI‐RS meeting in 2010. Methods The sub‐group considered five areas for future research in stress urinary incontinence (SUI); (i) epidemiology and public health efforts in SUI, (ii) the basic sciences examining the physiology and pathophysiology of the continence mechanism, (iii) diagnostic techniques and clinical assessment of SUI, (iv) the future of treatment and surgical cure, and (v) the separate issue of male SUI. Results Roadblocks to progress were identified for each of the five directions. Conclusions Future research directions are suggested for each of these areas. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:704–707, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87181/1/21139_ftp.pd

Serum levels of Sex hormone Binding globulin (ShBg) are not predictive of prostate cancer diagnosis and aggressiveness: results from an italian biopsy cohort

Purpose To explore the association between serum levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa) as well as high grade disease in men undergoing prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods Between 2006 and 2012, we prospectively enrolled 740 patients with no history of PCa undergoing prostate biopsy. Before biopsy general data of the patient DRE, PSA and BMI were recorded. The risk of detecting cancer and high grade cancer was assessed as a function of SHBG using crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Results Serum levels of SHBG were not associated with an increased risk of PCa or high grade disease. Age (OR 1.027 95% CI 1.003-1.052 p = 0.027), DRE (OR 3.391 95% CI 2.258-5.092 p = 0.000) and PSA (OR 1.078 95% CI 1.037-1.120 p = 0.000) were found to be independent predictors of prostate cancer risk. Age (OR 1.051 95% CI 1.009-1.095 p = 0.016), DRE (OR 2.519 95% CI 1.384-4.584 p = 0.000), BMI (OR 1.098 95% CI 1.011-1.193 p = 0.027) and PSA (OR 1.074 95% CI 1.014-1.137 p = 0.015) were found to be independent predictors of high grade disease. Conclusions In our cohort of patients, serum levels of SHBG are not predictive of PCa or high grade disease. According to our experience SHBG should not be considered a biomarker in PCa diagnosis neither a marker for high grade disease

The Continuing Story of the Cost-Effectiveness of Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate versus Transuretheral Resection of the Prostate for the Treatment of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Obstruction

n/

Quality of life with pharmacological treatment in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: results from the Evolution European Prospective Multicenter Multi-National Registry Study.

Item does not contain fulltext Background Lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostate enlargement (LUTS/BPE) can lead to significant disturbances to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pharmacological treatment of LUTS/BPE on disease specific and generic QOL measures. Methods Evolution was a European prospective, multicenter multi-national, observational registry collecting real-life clinical data over 2 years on the management of LUTS/BPE in primary and secondary care. This study investigated disease-specific QOL using questionnaires such as IPSS Q8, BPH Impact Index (BII) and generic QOL using questionnaires like EuroQOL Five Dimension (EQ5D) which encompassed EQ5D VAS and EQ5D health index. Results The registry enrolled 1838 BPE patients and 1246 patients were evaluable at the end of 24 months. Nearly 70% of patients in the study were previously treated with medical therapy and 17% of these had already discontinued medical treatment previously for various reasons with lack of efficacy being the most common. The mean time since diagnosis of LUTS in the previously treated group was 4.7 years (0-26 years). Medical management produced statistically significant improvement in QOL (disease specific and generic) in previously untreated patients and an insignificant change in generic QOL in previously treated patients. Conclusions After 5-years from the onset of symptoms, LUTS/BPE patients previously treated with medication had significantly impaired QOL in patients in a manner comparable to other chronic diseases. Earlier intervention with minimally invasive surgical techniques (MIT) should be considered in LUTS/BPE patients that do not show a significant improvement in QOL with medical therapy

Patient's adherence on pharmacological therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is different: Is combination therapy better than monotherapy

Abstract BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed that the non-adherence to the pharmacological therapy of patients affected by BPH-associated LUTS increased the risk of clinical progression of BPH. We examined the patients adherence to pharmacological therapy and its clinical consequences in men with BPH-associated LUTS looking at the differences between drug classes comparing mono vs combination therapy. METHODS: A retrospective, population-based cohort study, using prescription administrative database and hospital discharge codes from a total of 1.5 million Italian men. Patients ≥ 40 years, administered alpha-blockers (AB) and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs), alone or in combination (CT), for BPH-associated LUTS were analyzed. The 1-year and long term adherence together with the analyses of hospitalization rates for BPH and BPH-related surgery were examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model and Pearson chi square test. RESULTS: Patients exposed to at least 6 months of therapy had a 1-year overall adherence of 29 % (monotherapy AB 35 %, monotherapy 5ARI 18 %, CT 9 %). Patient adherence progressively declined to 15 %, 8 % and 3 % for AB, 5ARI, and CT, respectively at the fifth year of follow up. Patients on CT had a higher discontinuation rate along all the follow-up compared to those under monotherapy with ABs or 5ARIs (all p < 0.0001). Moreover, CT was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization for BPH-related surgery (HR 0.94; p < 0.0001) compared to AB monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to pharmacological therapy of BPH-associated LUTS is low and varies depending on drugs class. Patients under CT have a higher likelihood of discontinuing treatment for a number of reasons that should be better investigated. Our study suggests that new strategies aiming to increase patient's adherence to the prescribed treatment are necessary in order to prevent BPH progression

Tolterodine extended release in the treatment of male oab/storage luts: A systematic review

Overactive bladder (OAB)/ storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have a high prevalence affecting up to 90\% of men over 80 years. The role of sufficient therapies appears crucial. In the present review, we analyzed the mechanism of action of tolterodine extended-release (ER) with the aim to clarify its efficacy and safety profile, as compared to other active treatments of OAB/storage LUTS.A wide Medline search was performed including the combination of following words: "LUTS", "BPH", "OAB", "antimuscarinic", "tolterodine", "tolterodine ER". IPSS, IPSS storage sub-score and IPSS QoL (International Prostate Symptom Score) were the validated efficacy outcomes. In addition, the numbers of urgency episodes/24 h, urgency incontinence episodes/24 h, incontinence episodes/24 h and pad use were considered. We also evaluated the most common adverse events (AEs) reported for tolterodine ER.Of 128 retrieved articles, 109 were excluded. The efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine ER Vs. tolterodine IR have been evaluated in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized placebo controlled study in 1529 patients with OAB. A 71\% mean reduction in urgency incontinence episodes was found in the tolterodine ER group compared to a 60\% reduction in the tolterodine IR (p 29 cc) only the combination therapy significantly reduced 24-h voiding frequency (2.8 vs. 1.7 with tamsulosin, 1.4 with tolterodine, or 1.6 with placebo). A recent meta-analysis evaluating tolterodine in comparison with other antimuscarinic drugs demonstrated that tolterodine ER was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing micturition/24 h, urinary leakage episodes/24 h, urgency episodes/24 h, and urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. With regard to adverse events, tolterodine ER was associated with a good adverse event profile resulting in the third most favorable antimuscarinic. Antimuscarinic drugs are the mainstay of pharmacological therapy for OAB / storage LUTS; several studies have demonstrated that tolterodine ER is an effective and well tolerated formulation of this class of treatment.Tolterodine ER resulted effective in reducing frequency urgency and nocturia and urinary leakage in male patients with OAB/storage LUTS. Dry mouth and constipation are the most frequently reported adverse events

Telehealth in Urology: A Systematic Review of the Literature. How Much Can Telemedicine Be Useful During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused increased interest in the application of telehealth to provide care without exposing patients and physicians to the risk of contagion. The urological literature on the topic is sparse

Urology practice during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign

The current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly different from that of the first, emergency phase. Several countries in the world are experiencing a second, or even a third, wave of contagion, while awaiting the effects of mass vaccination campaigns. The aim of this report was to provide an update of previously released recommendations on prioritization and restructuring of urological activities